Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-02-05
EELLIE's NOBLE DEEDS.
BY ABBIE Af'KEEvER.

right" and the ragged urchln eyed the
hne lady with wide, open eyes.
aLor', amt she some?' he said, to a
near companion, sail shiny like and soft.
WhOopeel if NANNY had some O. her
hnery we'd have holiday dinner well as
Biddy O'Brien."
"Hel hel bel Tim, roared the other,
athe idee Of a dinner out o finery,"
81 ment to sell it you know well
enough, / wander who she is?n
But IN the meantime Nellie Strong
had reached the fifth door and stood, al
most out Of breath, gazing about the
Wretched hallway where poverty held
sway.
allow can they live so?' she thought.
'fWhat horrid odors, and there's a half
dozen babies crying below. Poor little
thingsr' then she knocked on the door
befoIe her.
"Come in" called out woman's voice.
Nellie pushed the creaking door open
and entered the small, bare chamber.
At its one window a woman sat men
ding some costly lace. In a corner on a
cot reclined a pale young girl There
was no fire in the room, although the
air was keen and frosty.
NAk0L AA4A---A+Ae4 NIB hl--A4A-A- 4 Ae--4IA
with some work; wanted this lace mend
ed particularly before the ball, and so
sought you out myself"
''Yes, Miss Strong,sbe seated, pray.
Let me look at the lace, please?'
Nellie took the one vacant chair and
urned her bright eyes upon the pale
young girl on the cot.
"Are you an invahd?' she gently iu-
quired-
80 yes: have been one always. I
never could walk, but L do not suffer
much now"
'sYOu don't mean to tell me that you
have lain here all your hfer' cried Nellie,
ndnever saw anything but these bare
walls p
almost all my life. 1t isn't SO bad
for me as you would think. The neigh
bors are kind, and another brings me a
flower now and then, and We talk of
what might be if could grow stronger.
Talk is cheap" SMILED the invalid.
AZ don't think could do this before
Wednesday. VIII that answer, Miss
Strong?"
30 yes. said Nellie, carelessly, at
does not mater at all But tell me, Mrs
Smith, have you ever consulted a good
physician about your daughterT'
81 have often wished to do so, but
could mot afford it."
just then a little tow-headed, dirty
faced girl Of five or six years thrust her
head in the doorway.
'Please, Miss Smith, the lady'a
Worser. Mother thinks it's dyin'"
"Ol" exclaimed Nellie, whose baby %
'An Irish wOman's down stairs. An
attack OF Group; the weather has been
cool, and the little fellow caught cold.
Yes, Mary III come. You'll excuse me a
moment, Miss Strong"
Eyes; but may not 60, tOO-poOr lit
tie baby?"
Aud .timidly drawing her silken skirts
about her, she followed Mrs. Smith into
the room OF the Irish washerwoman,
where upon a straw bed lay a little six
mOnths-Old baby dying, as was evident
at glance.
'tHe's the third one" sobbed the poor
mother. ''Tve Ouly four left, and his
father couldn't stop work long enough
to see him die, his boss is that hard on
him. My baby! oh, my baby"
Nellie drew out a bill from her purse
and placed it in the poor mothers hand.
you'll need things for-tor the fun
sral, she said, softly. Take it. II
come and see you again"
Lord love yoHr sweet face, cried the
woman, with a wild fit OF weaping
You're that kind mum, I don't know
now to thank you. TIN be the hrt dead
child that 1 could ever PBy for it's coffin
Oh, how sweet hen look all in whiteP'
As they passed out OF the room Of
death a party Of men came mp the stain
bearing a limp form between them.
"Whst isitr' asked Nellie, of Mrs
Smith, drawing CLOSER to her.
Some accident, evidently. What has
happened. Pete ?" she inquired OF one Of
the men.
ssAIr. SwGsher fell from the building
matter Of twenty feet, and we thinl
both his legs are broken. There comes
the doctor"
s'Poor man." sighed Mrs. Smith. 81
don't know what viii become Of hi
family; he was their only support. You
look inaEDressib4Y panied. These thing
are common enough to all large tene
ments. We see sorrow and suffering
around us continually"
And she wandered why the lady fol
lowed her up to her room again.
81 wish (" said Nellie to the invited girl
''you would allow me to send you on
family physician; he is one OF the bes
in the city. I think he can help you"
30 If he only Wouldr' exclaimed tn
mother. 'Lulu might be helped, 1 haVI
always believed"
'EYes; and Mrs. Smith, you need no
hurry about the lace / don't think III
need It, bat I'll pay you for the worl
now. And-you ought to have q fire
good day"
Before Mrs. Smith could get he
glasses on to examine the bill In her lap
her visitor had gone.
"Oh Lulup' she exclaimed, sits
twenty dollar bin; she's made mistake.
But Lulu wiped away tear from he
wan cheek, and smiled up in her moth
er's face.
s.No mistake, mother; the beautifu
lady meant it Tor us. saw hsr eye
were fun OF tears. Heaven bless he
tender hearth"
Il presume the birthday party and q
on Is being rushed along" sad Nj
Strong. IS his daughter entered the din
ing room. i.HoW big check Is TO b
called for, Pet3 Don't be too hard o.
ycEr old Esther"
Nellie did not reply at oueei she too